17 Naxalites killed, four jawans injured in encounter in Chhattisgarh's Sukma
Raipur
At least 17 cadres of the CPI (Maoist) were killed in a fierce gun-battle with the security forces along the inter-district border area of Sukma-Dantewada close to Gogunda hilly forest terrain, about 480 km south of Raipur on Saturday morning.
Three of the injured security personnel belong to the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a unit of the state police, the fourth is from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
Officials said that a high-ranking, dreaded Maoist, carrying a reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head, is among the neutralised cadres.
After the exchange of fire stopped, bodies of 17 naxalites, including 11 women, were recovered from the encounter site.
The injured jawans have been admitted to a hospital, and their condition was stated to be normal, he said.
A large cache of firearms, including an AK-47 rifle, self-loading rifle (SLR), INSAS rifle, .303 rifle, a rocket launcher and barrel grenade launcher (BGL), and explosive materials were recovered from the spot.
Of the killed cadres, seven have been identified so far, while efforts are underway to ascertain the identity of the others.
Kuhdami Jagdish, alias Budhra, a special zonal committee member of Maoists and secretary of Darbha division is among seven identified neutralised Naxalites.
Jagdish was allegedly wanted in more than a dozen deadly Naxal incidents, including the 2013 Jhiram Valley attack that left several Congress leaders dead, officials added, adding that he carried a reward of Rs 25 lakh.
Six other deceased cadres include four area committee members of the Maoists. A search operation was still underway in the area.
The joint team of armed personnel engaged in the anti-Maoist operation comprised Sukma District Reserve Guards (DRG) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), a police officer said.
“We will meet our deadline on the elimination of Maoists by March 31, 2026 as fixed by our union home minister Shri Amit Shahji”, the minister affirmed. Shah is scheduled to visit Dantewada on 3 April.
This year, 132 bodies of Maoists have been recovered so far in various encounters in Chhattisgarh including 116 killed in the Bastar division. Saturday’s encounter in Dantewada is the fifth this month in Bastar division.
Sukma, among the seven Maoist-affected districts in Bastar zone, is cited as an epicentre of Red rebels in south Chhattisgarh.
Shah hails security agencies for neutralising 16 Naxalites in Sukma operation
New Delhi
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday hailed security agencies for neutralizing 16 Naxalites in an operation in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma.
Reaffirming the government’s resolve to eradicate Naxalism before 31st March 2026, Shah appealed to those with arms to shun extremism and join the path of peace and development.
In his social media handle X, Shah said, “Another strike on Naxalism!”
“Our security agencies have neutralised 16 Naxalites and recovered a massive cache of automatic weapons in an operation in Sukma,” he said.
The Home Minister said, “Under the leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, we are resolved to eradicate Naxalism before the 31st of March 2026”.
“My appeal to those with arms is that weapons and violence cannot bring change; only peace and development can,” he added.
